Introduction

For those of you who don't know the story...

Last summer a friend asked our family to have teenage boy from Binghamton spend five days with us.  The goal was to have him do some work around the house and in the yard to earn a little money, but the main point was for him to just be with a Christian family.

The boy's name was Mike, and he came to our house one Monday - Friday in July.  While with us, Mike worked in the yard, read a good book, and participated in family time.  He was with us for family devotionals, basketball games in the driveway, meals, movie night at home, and other activities.  He also was around for the daily routine of going to the grocery store, cooking dinner, and doing chores.

In short, Mike "did life" with our family for five days, but that five days left us with an ongoing friendship.

Around Christmas last year, God put a burden on our hearts to spend more time with Mike since he was about to graduate from high school.  So, we asked him if he would like to do a Bible study on Wednesday nights with John.  He enthusiastically said, "yes!"

However, when John came to pick him up that first night, two other boys were there with him who said they wanted to go too.  Brothers Alvin Justice and Jarquavious Murry (ages 16 and 15) went with Mike to the Bible study that first night and have been faithfully coming ever since.

As summer drew closer we began talking with two men - Jeff Riddle and Jordan Frazier - who had also been spending time mentoring the boys.  It became clear to us that for Alvin and Jarquavious to continue to develop spiritually and personally they needed to be introduced to more believers, specifically Godly men, women, and families from whom they could see modeled the love of Christ.

So, we began to outline what their summer might look like (a lot like our summer with Mike), and we began to talk to other families who might be willing and able to help.

The hope is that these boys will continue to be drawn to Jesus through relationships with other Christian families.  As this happens, we believe that the boys will also get the benefit of learning much about education, vocation, healthy families, marriage, responsibility, service, and love - things that we may take for granted but are in short supply in their lives.

This blog will give you more information on the background of the boys and their family.  It will give you updates on the boys time this summer, and it will give you ways you can help.

Please feel free to contact us with questions or for more information.

Thank you!

John & Britton